24 August 2009 1:01 PM

Time to shut the gate on rugby scandals

Well, it was summertime but the living wasn't so easy for rugby fans.

The sunny season is usually a time when the egg-shaped ball falls off the radar. Players take time out to recover from the punishments of a full domestic campaign. Fans find something else to do on a weekend. The back pages are dominated by tennis, Tiger and transfers.

Not so 2009.

First came the Lions. They brought us despair in Pretoria, then sought redemption in spectacular fashion. They returned home with much of the pride in pieces but pride very much intact.

But even that tour was not without its controversy. From Peter 'Tutu' De Villiers' alarming defence of Schalk Burger's eye-gouging, to the entire Springbok side donning 'Justice 4 Bakkies' armbands in defiance of the IRB, scandals threatened to grab more headlines than the rugby itself.

And it was hardly all quiet on the domestic front. Investigations into an end-of-season party at Bath and an end-of-sanity substitution at Harlequins have rumbled on and on. The outcome at both clubs has not made for pretty reading, but no punishment is excessive when the integrity of the sport is at stake.

Burger, Bath and bloodgate have exposed the dark side of the game and we must learn something from this sorry summer. A lot, in fact. But we must also close this embarrassing chapter of rugby history and move on.

So here's some good news.

The World Cup is on its way, rugby sevens is only a few politicians from becoming an Olympic game, and the new premiership season is about to kick off.

September sun and fairway pitches. The familiar aroma of burger and beer drifting on an Autumn breeze. Fans filled with optimism and stadiums filled with fans.

If that doesn't excite you, might I politely suggest you navigate away from these pages.

Otherwise, remould your mouthguard, clean your boots and read on. The best league in the world is only days away and you've found Guinness Gossip - the place for news, interviews and a behind-the-scenes look into all things premier rugby.

Let's just hope good things come to those who wait — we've waited long enough.

A pint-sized preview of the season ahead

Bath — One simple objective for the new campaign: keep the headlines on the pitch. A scandal-less season must follow such a scandalous six months.

Gloucester — From boardroom to changing room, a fresh wave of personnel need to ensure the league's traditional 'chokers' shake off that unwelcome tag — the Shedhead faithful have waited too long.

Harlequins — All eyes will be on whether Quins can lose the stain of bloodgate and reproduce the same fight and form without talisman 'Deano' Richards. Expect rival fans to conjure up some imaginative ditties from the touchline.

Leeds — The new boys will take time to adjust to premier competition after their all-conquering promotion campaign, but if anyone can prepare them for the next step, it's surely Neil Back.

Leicester — The Tigers sharpened their claws and lifted the trophy under the impressive guidance of Richard Cockerill. No doubt he'll be looking to defend his crown with his first full season in charge.

London Irish — Toby Booth, probably the only man in the country who might miss the ELVs, would love to cement Irish's place at the top table and go one step further by lifting the trophy with a team that gets better every year.

Newcastle — They may have lost Monsieur Wilkinson to Toulon, but last season's threat of relegation seemed to turn the club around. If they can start in the form they finished, things should be more comfortable for the men in black.

Northampton — New skipper Dylan Hartley (left) will take his role very seriously and his warrior-like intensity should see the Saints go marching on higher up the table.

Sale — The Sharks played some thumping rugby last season and if they can learn to win without trying to fill up a highlights package, they'll be in the running for a top spot.

Saracens — Rumours of a South African republic hidden in the suburbs of London are surely exaggarated, but a bit of Bok camaraderie won't hurt the campaign.

Wasps — Geech is gone after one poor campaign (but one hell of a Lions tour) and new coach Tony Hanks will know a Heineken Cup spot is a bare minimum for a high-flying club with a matching ambition.

Worcester — A lot of positive noise has been coming out of Sixways during pre-season and another solid campaign would see the Warriors establish themselves as genuine European contenders.

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